The failure of laterals to integrate well into their new law firms continues in 2014 as it has in the many years preceding it. For those firms that share the disappointing stories, the similarities are remarkable: The lawyer came in expecting senior staff (especially marketing/BD and professional development) and lawyers […]
What law firms can learn from our New Year’s Eve Dining Experience at Betony in New York
For 15 years I boycotted New Year's Eve, grumbling about it being a night for amateurs. Then I started joining favorite and new friends in New York for a several day celebration that included carefully researched restaurants, theater, museums, shopping, plenty of champagne and spontaneous happenings that fit nicely into […]
A champagne toast to a grand 2014 – and my one piece of New Year advice
Many law firm consultants, prognosticators and pundits have written long blog posts and articles with predictions for law firms in 2014. Given that website visitors don't read (they scan), I prefer tiny bites of information and opinions, as opposed to having to scroll to China. I have several predictions this […]
A big year of awards and enhancements for Content Pilot
As the founder of Content Pilot, I am proud when the company and team I have built does well. Our biggest test of success is how our clients feel about us. Every engagement – regardless of size or client – means the world to us, and our mission is to […]
Ouch! Thinking about designing a law firm mobile app? Read this review first.
If you are thinking it's a good idea to launch a mobile app for your law firm, first read this review by Jeff Taylor. Jeff is a lawyer in Oklahoma who writes a popular blog called, "The Droid Lawyer." This is a scathing review of Sidley & Austin's mobile app […]
Do you want to work for a man or a woman? New Gallup poll says “a man.”
After seeing Meryl Streep’s always-brilliant performance and her utterly withering glances at her less-than underlings in “The Devil Wears Prada,” I remembered back a few years to an unhappier time in my professional life. The source of my despondency wasn’t entirely a woman to whom I reported, but she played a prominent role. She was […]
Good advice about lawyers’ productivity, but marketers are getting a bad rap
Jack Bostelman wrote a blog post about Wells Fargo's Q3 law firm financial survey and the AmLaw 200 firms' weak showing in 2013. Here are the results in a nutshell: Gross revenue increased 2.5% Expenses also increased 2.5% Total hours billed declined 0.75% and hours per lawyer declined 1.1% Effective […]
Results: 2013 AmLaw 100 Websites: Ten Foundational Best Practices Research – Part I
I just presented the Keynote address at the 2013 LMA Legal Tech Conference in San Francisco, previewing the results of the 2013 AmLaw 100 Websites research findings. Congratulations and thanks to Clare Ota and Adam Stock for organizing a sold-out, superior conference. Sponsored by Content Pilot LLC and supported by […]
What law firms can learn from my weird service experience at Del Frisco’s in Dallas
Well, Del Frisco’s has done it again. It’s once more the subject of one of my “What law firms/lawyers can learn . . . ” posts, and not in a good way. My earlier post about the Del Frisco’s in Manhattan is one of the most-read posts of this blog. […]
New Website Case Study: Tennessee firm Chambliss launches new site (chamblisslaw.com)
Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C. (“Chambliss”) is not your grandmother’s Tennessee law firm, in spite of the fact that it is 126 years old. From a style of doing business standpoint,the 56 lawyers are accessible, approachable, entrepreneurial, scrappy (the opposite of white-shoe), big fun (not boring), innovative and forward-thinking. From […]
New Website Case Study: Oklahoma firm Doerner (dsda.com)
Doerner Saunders Daniel & Anderson LLP (“Doerner,” which rhymes with burner) is the oldest law firm in Oklahoma – its founding and Oklahoma’s statehood happened at about the same time. It is a fresh-thinking, contemporary firm and it has been from the beginning – working with clients who were shaping […]
“My lawyers commit little acts of murder everyday.” So said a Fortune 100 GC.
It's startling to read that, isn't it? I heard this Fortune 100 General Counsel of European operations speak several years ago on a panel about client service and client relationship management. I wrote about it before in this blog, and I've mentioned it many times in speeches. I'll never forget the eerie […]
What lawyers can learn about messaging from an unlikely source — Dentistry.
I attended a wedding in Vancouver last weekend and met a successful and seasoned dentist from Abilene named Dr. Christie Leedy. Being one of those rare people who actually likes going to the dentist, I didn't hesitate to engage her in conversation. She said one of the most riveting phrases […]
Charlatan SEO company gets sued by its unhappy law firm client
From the very first days of Google, Yahoo, MSN and other search engines, lawyers have wanted to appear at the top of search results – “above the fold.” That spawned a slew of hucksters forming companies that promised unwitting lawyers that they could get them to show up on top […]
The best lawyer videos I’ve seen – watch Richard Hsu
“Video” comes up in every website conversation I have with lawyers and marketers. Everyone wants to add video to their websites, but few know how to approach it strategically, uniquely and so that the end result is superior to what you had without the added media. I have written about Richard […]
The Fifth Annual AmLaw 200 Trends Analysis
This post was originally published by Content Pilot’s Patrick Fuller on the Deductive Intelligence blog. This is the fifth year that he’s published, through various sources, his take on the AmLaw 200 trends. The 2013 AmLaw 200 was released in early June, and to borrow a line from Led Zeppelin, […]
Website visitors don’t read (and we’ve known this for a long time)
Law firm website analytics show that visitors don’t read the content that we painstakingly create. Visitors are scanners – they efficiently scale the pages with their eyes in a big F pattern, catching a headline, keywords or infographics that catch their eye. We hope that something registers, and that there is […]
Managing Partners Share Forecasts and Insights – LMA Texas – Dallas City Group
Guest post by Lisa Whitley Coleman Four Texas Managing Partners recently discussed industry trends, marketing and business development roles and necessary changes to fundamental law firm business models at an April Legal Marketing Association Dallas City Group panel luncheon hosted by Haynes and Boone LLP. The room was filled with attorneys, […]
“Like” law firm Benesch and help fund Red Cross Disaster Relief
Smart law firm Benesch is raising money for the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and its Facebook visibility at the same time. If you “like” Benesch, they will donate one dollar – up to $5,000. Such a smart and good move for the law firm. Spread the word, “like” Benesch and […]
What law firms can learn from my experience with the strangest dessert in San Francisco (maybe the world)
While In San Francisco to speak at the monthly San Francisco LMA luncheon on Website trends (with Barbara Abulafia, Keker & Van Nest, Jeff Yerkey, Right Hat and Per Casey, Tenrec), my colleague Keith Wewe, another couple and I were hosted by Elizabeth Lampert for dinner at Twenty-Five Lusk. This modern and tony restaurant, located […]